(From left) Defence Ministers Marise Payne (Australia), Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar (Brunei), Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh (Cambodia), Gen Chang Wanquan (China), Nirmala Sitharaman (India), Ryamizard Ryacudu (Indonesia) and Itsunori Onodera (Japan) link arms for a photo session at the two-day ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting at Clark near Manila in Philippines. AP/PTI

Manila, October 24

Terrorism and radicalisation through social media pose a “serious” security challenge to all countries and a strong collective action is required to fight the “scourge”, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.Addressing the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ meeting here in the capital of the Philippines, she said the global strategic and security situation was constantly evolving and had thrown up fresh and serious challenges.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“The defence and security scenario in our shared region has also witnessed significant changes recently. Our countries now need to simultaneously prepare for traditional (military) and non-traditional threats,” Sitharaman, who is on her first foreign visit since taking over as India’s first woman Defence Minister last month, said.Terming terrorism a “trans-national phenomena” which needed strong collective action, Sitharaman praised the Philippines for resolutely addressing the threat posed by terrorists in the southern part of the country.“New developments in social media and cyberspace have expanded the threat as these are exploited by terrorists to develop less visible but lethal ways and means of manipulating minds of the people,” she was quoted as saying in an official statement.“I wish to commend the Philippines for reiterating India’s zero tolerance for terrorism anywhere and under any circumstances. There are no good terrorists,” she said.Sitharaman said the transnational activism of terrorist groups and the “spectre” of returning foreign fighters as well as the conduct of irresponsible states that provide safe havens, funding and even encouragement to terrorist groups all needed to be addressed jointly and comprehensively.“Terrorism anywhere is a threat everywhere,” she said. “India has taken resolute measures to fight the scourge of terrorism from across its borders. We fully recognise the role of joint mechanisms with our partners and the role of international and regional forums in fighting this menace. “The recent, BRICS Summit Declaration condemning all forms of terrorism and identifying a number of terrorist organisations engaged in dastardly acts was a positive step. We should be clear and unequivocal in our condemnation of terrorism,” she was quoted as saying in the statement. — PTI